Restricted

Sorry, but there will be no Thursday Blog Hops anymore. It wasn't as much fun as I thought it would be and, honestly, the people that were hopping over were just trying to increase their stats and didn't really seem all that interested in reading the content that I have posted. 

Now that that part is over, I thought I would instead explain my stance as a working momma who has little to no time to socialize.

I get invitations to do things with and without my child, I get asked to join groups, play dates, this thing or that thing - but I turn them all down.

GASP - What? Why? Don't you need the interaction with adults? Don't you want your child to be socialized with other children? Why on Earth would you not want to hang out with other fabulous women and do fun things?

I have several reasons but rather than list all of them out for you, I am going to reveal my simple truth.

I am grounded.

I am grounded until my house and yard gets clean.

I am grounded until the laundry is completely done and put away (because no matter how many times the Hubs tells me that he has done laundry - if it is just sitting in the dryer or in a basket on the floor - it is NOT done).

I am grounded until every last dish (even the ones littering the bedside table or hiding behind the couch) are clean (and, again, put away because sitting in the dishwasher is NOT done).

I am grounded until the pole saw that has been perched precariously on my porch for OVER a year is either taken to the dump or used and put away (are we seeing a theme here?)

I am grounded until the shards of broken toys that litter our driveway are picked up and thrown into a trash can (since some little princess is intent on flattening all of our tires).

I am grounded until the grape vines that are taking over the west end of our house are chopped down and off.

I am grounded until the cardboard boxes that were taken out to the burn pile in the fall are finally burned.

I am grounded until every toy in our house finds their respective home (and at this point, I am seriously considering Goodwill as a great new home for all of them).

I am grounded until every last stitch of 3T and 4T clothing in our house finds itself a new home.

I work full-time. After leaving work, I make a mad dash for home where I cook a nutritious and delicious dinner that only I eat (because a certain 3 year old has already gotten some snacks from the fridge and a certain 31 year old has also had some snacks and is about to leave for work).

Z and I will play together for a while and before I know it is 10 PM and it's time for her to go to bed.

I get a very small window of time to hang out with my girl each day. On weekends (the only time that I am really able to clean), I am so busy trying to fit everything in - church, friends, activities, projects, 3 meals each day - that I am exhausted by the time Monday rolls around.

You women, with your play groups and clubs - where do you find the time? Where do you fit in going to the gym, running marathons, taking exquisite (professional style) photos of your perfect children, being involved in community and charity groups, having your kid enrolled in every extracurricular dance, gymnastics, cheerleading, soccer, tee-ball, karate thing that comes up?

Please tell me your secrets.

Because it looks like I am going to be grounded forever.